IMPHAL, Dec 22 - Manipur State Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday strongly condemned the re-arrest of its state secretary L Sotinkumar by the police after the Imphal West district Chief Judicial Magistrate granted him bail.
The CPI alleged that the police also attempted to arrest other leaders of the party.
CPI state council secretary L Sotinkumar was arrested by the police a day after the Left parties called a 12-hour general strike against the CAA on December 19.
It may be mentioned that Sotinkumar was released on bail by the Imphal West District Chief Judicial Magistrate. However, he was picked up by the police when he came out of the court complex.
The State CPI alleged that Sotinkumar was re-arrested and detained unlawfully. The CPI further alleged that it was a repressive measure by the State police.
Addressing a press conference at State CPI office in Imphal, CPI national executive council member Dr M Nara Singh strongly protested against the re-arrest of Sotinkumar and demanded that he should be released without any condition and without further delay. Dr Nara also said that the CPI and other Left parties had launched a nationwide protest against the CAA and as part of it Manipur units of the Left parties had called the 12-hour general strike.
�The general strike concluded peacefully without any violent incident. Leaders and workers of the parties did not indulge in any unlawful activity during the strike,� he said.
Dr Nara further alleged that the CPI state secretary was picked up and detained by the State government for criticising the incumbent BJP-led government in the State.
He said that Sotinkumar was performing his duty as a leader of a political party and in the interest of the people. �He should not be treated as a criminal,� Dr Nara said.
During the December 19 anti-CAA strike across the country, many leaders and workers were arrested but they were later released on bail, he said.
�The state CPI secretary of the party was the only leader who was re-arrested by the police,� Dr Nara pointed out.
�Political leaders are doing their work in the interest of the people and every concerned citizen knows who are serving the State and its people with sincerity,� Dr Nara added.
